Water nanoclusters are shown from first-principles calculations to possess unique terahertz-frequency vibrational modes in the 1-6 THz range, corresponding to O-O-O "bending," "squashing," and "twisting" "surface" distortions of the clusters. The cluster molecular-orbital LUMOs are huge Rydberg-like "S," "P," "D," and "F" orbitals that accept an extra electron via optical excitation, ionization, or electron donation from interacting biomolecules. Dynamic Jahn-Teller coupling of these "hydrated-electron" orbitals to the THz vibrations promotes such water clusters as vibronically active "structured water" essential to biomolecular function such as protein folding. In biological microtubules, confined water-cluster THz vibrations may induce their "quantum coherence" communicated by Jahn-Teller phonons via coupling of the THz electromagnetic field to the water clusters' large electric dipole moments. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
CITATION STYLE
Johnson, K. (2012). Terahertz vibrational properties of water nanoclusters relevant to biology. Journal of Biological Physics, 38(1), 85–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10867-011-9238-4
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.